Accessibility

N.Y. county debuts MV-1s for paratransit fleet

NEW YORK CITY — Rockland County officials demoed five new MV-1s that will be joining the TRIPS paratransit fleet in December, reported the New City Patch.

The blue and white vehicles have doors that open on both sides for those passengers who do not need ramps and are configured to allow one wheelchair passenger to sit in the front next to the driver. The vehicles can accommodate three ambulatory passengers and one standard size wheelchair passenger. For the full story, click here.

The decision was a win for disability rights activists who pressed WMATA officials to avoid companies such as Uber, because they lack vehicles with wheelchair-ramps and have been sued for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The agency was able to send five vehicles for the transport of 10 wheelchair passengers from a medical facility in Corpus Christi, Texas to a shelter in San Antonio. They are also offering free passes and travel training to those people that are in shelters in Austin.